Alex Jensen Adds Former NBA Assistant Raphael Chillious To His Utah Basketball Staff
Mar 21, 2025, 9:12 AM | Updated: 10:15 am
SALT LAKE CITY—Utah basketball has made the first hire of Alex Jensen’s staff by adding Memphis Grizzlies assistant coach Raphael Chillious.
This is a significant move in the program’s efforts to strengthen its presence in college basketball.
📰 | Head Coach Alex Jensen makes first hire, names Raphael Chillious Assistant Coach.
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— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) March 21, 2025
Chillious comes to Utah from the NBA, but he was regarded as one of college basketball’s best recruiters.
He has an impressive resume and extensive background, including time in the NBA, college, and prep levels.
Who is Utah’s newest assistant coach, Raphael Chillious?
Chillious spent this past season as an assistant coach with the Memphis Grizzlies. He joined the organization in September and has worked closely with the development of players on the Grizzlies squad.
Previously, he served as the head coach and athletic director at South Kent. His second stint with the prep academy began in 2020 when he returned to the program he had built into a national contender more than a decade earlier.
Most recently, Chillious was the Associate Head Coach at East Carolina University. In his very first season with the Pirates, Chillious helped assemble the No. 10 ranked recruiting Class of 2019, inking four top 50 junior college prospects.
BREAKING: Utah has announced that they’ve added Raphael Chillious as a new assistant coach!
He comes to Utah from the Memphis Grizzlies, and “Coach Chills” was key to top recruiting classes at Washington, Villanova, and Connecticut. pic.twitter.com/3VmrUkdv5B
— Steve Bartle (@BartleKSLsports) March 21, 2025
From 2017-2018, he served as the Associate Head Coach at the University of Connecticut, where he helped the Huskies recruit key talent.
Between two stints at Washington, he spent one season at Villanova under Head Coach Jay Wright. He recruited several key players who eventually contributed to Villanova’s championship run in 2016.
However, his time with Washington—2009-12, 2013-17—is arguably his most impressive work as a recruiter. The Huskies put together multiple top-25 and top 10 classes, which included the signing of multiple top prospects. The Huskies recruited and developed at a very high level, including a handful of first-round NBA draft picks.
Chillious fills a huge need for Utah basketball
Chillious brings a wealth of connections and know-how on the recruiting trail, which was a major question mark around Jensen and his staff. However, Chillious addresses that area rather emphatically.
With Jensen remaining firm in his commitment to the Dallas Mavericks, Utah needs staff members to start recruiting. Chillious can serve as the main recruiter while Jensen fulfills his remaining obligations to Dallas.
The transfer portal officially opens this coming Monday. Though Utah is preparing for the Crown Basketball Tournament, it’s vital that Utah gets started recruiting in the portal.
Chillious’ extensive background in player development and coaching at the highest levels of basketball positions him to lead Utah into a new era, combining his expertise and vision to take the program to new heights.
